Sports Chatter: A pigskin pundit's predictions

Since it is played once a week and it is the sport that draws the biggest crowds at the high school level, football lends itself to weekly columnists trying to be pigskin pundits.

As Shania Twain says about guys who always have to be right about everything, "wadda ya think, you're Elvis or something?"

Well, actually, I am, although that doesn't impress Shania much. LOL, as they say in the social media ramble.

These predictions are for entertainment purposes only. All the following games are scheduled for a 7 p.m. Friday kickoff.

Warren Hills at Voorhees.

Voorhees quarterback Dan Barone, a returning starter, gave us the best quote you'll ever get out of a high school lad. "If you want to do something new, you have to be doing new things," he said. Whenever he hangs up his chin strap for good, he has a future as a political speech writer.

The Vikings have been making 2-8 seasons a bad habit for the last three years and have promoted 12-year defensive coordinator Bob Angstadt to the head coaching position in an effort to turn the program in a new direction.

Barone is very good, with a strong arm and mobility, which he will need when the Blue Streaks break down his pass protection. The Vikings only have nine seniors and just four of the 11 defensive starters are returning. That's not a good recipe for winning an opening game against a team with the offensive weapons and experience Warren Hills will throw their way.

Warren Hills 28-13.

Hillsborough at Phillipsburg

The Stateliners (called The Galloping Garnet before 1954) believe they have the horses to repeat or improve upon their 7-3 season of last year.

"This is P'burg," said coach Ryan Ditze. "There's not a lot of prodding to get kids to do things the right way."

The team's fastest player, Alex Martin, is a threat in both the running and passing phases of offense and the return of power runner Dajuan Lee from knee surgery gives the attack an added dimension. Phillipsburg can either play dinosaur football inside the tackles or go off to the races on the edges.

This one will make Alley Oop smile. Hi ho, dinosaur, with defensive and special teams touchdowns thrown in for the Maloney Stadium crowd's entertainment. Many happy returns.

Phillipsburg 35-7.

South Hunterdon at Belvidere

"I think we are going to be very effective both throwing and running the ball," said Belvidere's new quarterback Logan Welles. He'll be operating with an experienced trio of bruisers J.B Lawson, Ryan Appleby and Evan Bray protecting him.

Big Red was 8-2 and has something to prove after missing out on the NJSIAA Group 1 sectional playoffs based on a very unscientific power points formula.

Meanwhile, the Eagles of South Hunterdon are on the brink of extinction. The state's smallest public high school has trouble finding enough football players among its students to field a team that can compete for lofty goals like the playoffs. Look for Big Red to play like gangbusters under the Friday Night Lights.

Belvidere 30-7.

Lenape Valley at Hackettstown

The schedule maker did the Tigers no favors by having Hackettstown open against Lenape Valley, a program that has been winning with the Delaware wing-T offense since the Ford administration. Coach Don Smolyn's well oiled machine will monotonously persist with its running game and then spring the play-action pass for a touchdown just when it catches the opponent flat footed.

Hackettstown looks to be a contender in the Northwest Jersey Freedom Division, with Warren County Player of The Year Brian Wickkiser primed to shed tacklers and find the end zone frequently. Last year's Tigers shook off the effects of an 0-3 start and got on a roll to make the playoffs.

This year, Elvis looks for the Tigers to be 3-1 after the first four games.

Lenape Valley 21-14.

North Warren at Butler

Butler will prove to be a rude host to North Warren, as the Patriots play their first game in a new league on the road. They have to replace a quarterback, running back and tight end who had stellar careers and leave big shoes to fill.

However, Elvis believes North Warren will improve and pick up the pace as the season goes on and North Warren, remaining true to the red, white and blue and the wing-T, contend for a playoff position.